To many, October 31 is Halloween but to a few (well, maybe one or two) die-hard traditionalists like me, October 31 is Nevada Day. As a schoolchild in Nevada, we always looked forward to having the day off from school.

October 31 was the date in 1864 on which Nevada was admitted as this country’s 36th state. In fact, people were so anxious to add Nevada as a state that the entire Nevada Constitution, nearly 18,000 words, was sent by telegraph to Washington D.C. President Abraham Lincoln then issued this proclamation. Although amended numerous times, Nevada’s original constitution remains in effect today.